Lawsuit filed in Fort Madison fatal police shooting

The city of Fort Madison and two police officers are being sued by the parents of a man who was killed in an officer-involved shooting.

The lawsuit filed in federal court says the officers violated the civil rights of 29-year-old Ryan Swearingen. Swearingen, of Clinton, was shot August 3rd, 2014, by an officer during an incident at Swearingen’s parents’ home in Fort Madison.

Witnesses have said Swearingen was out in the neighborhood in the early morning hours puncturing tires with a knife. Officers followed Swearingen back to his parents’ home where he was shot.

The Iowa Attorney General’s office has said the shooting was legally justified.